Benetton took the ad off its website about an hour after the
Vatican said it was "unacceptable" and offensive provocation,
according to the AP.

It's an extremely quick backtrack from a brand has always tried
to look bold. Benetton had earlier put up
huge banner featuring the photoshopped picture in the Vatican
itself -- obviously trying to get people riled up right at the
source.

"We must express the firmest protest for this absolutely
unacceptable use of the image of the Holy Father, manipulated and
exploited in a publicity campaign with commercial ends. This
shows a grave lack of respect for the pope, an offence to the
feelings of believers, a clear demonstration of how publicity can
violate the basic rules of respect for people by attracting
attention with provocation."

The Vatican wasn't the only one outraged. Luca Borgomeo, the
president of the Italian Association of Catholic Television
Viewers, spoke against the ad too.

Fallout from the Muslim world has been strangely nonexistent.
Perhaps they simply didn't have time to be outraged -- the ad
didn't even last a day.